Practice device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a golf practice device which includes a camera and a monitor in a portable case. The case opens to form a practice surface. The monitor, which is protected by a durable plexiglass cover, is located in one half of the case. The user stands on the other half of the case. The monitor is located in a substantially parallel plane with, and slightly below the playing surface. A plurality of tee positions each enable the user to focus on the ball during a normal golf swing while simultaneously enabling the user to view the swing in real time in his or her peripheral vision.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of practicedevices. More specifically, the invention relates to practice deviceswhich include a monitor and camera enabling the user to view his orherself while making a proper swing.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is known in the prior art to use devices enabling the user to observehis or her swing while practicing. One of these devices, disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,984,684 issued to Brostedt et al., enables the user toobserve his or her swing (and an instructor) in special glasses whichcontain a display. A second patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,967 issued toO'Leary et al., uses a mirror which is positioned so that the user mayobserve his or her swing.

Perhaps the closest prior art to the present invention is that shown inU.S. Pat. No. 5,904,484 issued to Burns. Burns discloses the use of botha camera and a monitor. The camera is aimed from a point of referenceideal for observing the users swing. The image viewed from this camerais projected in real time onto the monitor, the screen of which ispositioned in an upright, substantially vertical position. Because thescreen is viewed from its upright position, it is required to be locatedat a position beyond the ball from the user a considerable amount. Thiscreates problems. The most important of these, is that the user, inobserving his or her swing, must look away from the ball to see themonitor. With the proper golf swing, however, the user is required tostay focused on the ball. Because of this, when using the prior artdevice, the user is forced to swing in an unnatural manner whichprevents him or her from making the normal swinging motion. Practicingin this awkward manner substantially impairs what would otherwise be atremendous training method—watching your own swing in real time.

Because of this significant disadvantage, there is a need in the art fora practice device which enables the user to view the swing while stilllooking at the ball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior artdevices by providing a camera/monitor system in which the monitor islocated proximate or beneath the position from which the ball is struckto enable the user to view the swing in real time while accomplishing anormal golf shot in which the users eyes remain trained on the ball.

It is an object of the invention that the monitor be protected fromdamage.

It is an additional object of the invention that the monitor be in aplane substantially parallel to the plane of the playing surface.

It is a further advantage of the present invention that the monitor andcamera used are easily portable such that the user may take them fromplace to place with ease.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in detail below with reference to theattached drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable practice device of thepresent invention in open condition.

FIG. 2 shows the practice device of the present invention in closedposition, ready for transport.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1shows the device 10 of the present invention in open position. As can beseen from the figure, the device somewhat resembles an open suitcase. Ithas two halves. The first/standing half 14 is the half on which the userwill stand when practicing his or her swing. The second/striking half 12is the half on which a ball will be placed before being hit. On top ofboth halves, is a simulated playing surface 28. The surface shown usedhere, for golf, is artificial turf, known commonly as “astroturf.” Ascan be seen from FIG. 1, the artificial turf covers substantially allthe top surface of device 10 when it is in open condition. Othersurfaces for other sports, however, could be used as well and still fallwithin the scope of the invention. Virtually any sporting surface couldbe used by one skilled by the art depending on the type of sport beingpracticed.

Examination of striking half 12 reveals a monitor having a screen 34located thereon. Numerous types of monitors having flat screens arereadily commercially available, and will be known to one skilled in theart. It is desirable that it be a type that is fairly durable, so thatit will be able to endure the banging received from the golf head.

In order to minimize the potential for damage to display 34, screen 34is protected by a highly durable and transparent plexiglass protectivecover 36. Cover 36 is of sufficient thickness to prevent screen 34 to bedamaged when a user hits it with a club head. Immediately inward fromscreen 34 is a tee 43 at an inside-edge-tee location 44, the tee, madeof a durable thermoplastic or rubber material, being adapted to receivea golf ball. Also shown is a second tee 45 at center-screen location 46,where the tee is actually located in the middle of screen 34. Tee 45 isconstructed of a durable thermoplastic or rubber material just like tee43. A third tee 47 at an outside-edge location 48 is also constructed ofa durable thermoplastic or rubber material. Also present on strikinghalf is a cut-out section 22, which is shown containing a tripod 24 witha camera 26. When camera 26 and tripod 24 are not in use, they may bestored within section 22.

Examination of standing half 14 reveals a right-foot placement pad 30and a left-foot placement pad 32. Pads 30 and 32 are smooth relative tothe turf, and are shown being located in cut-out portions, but couldalso be easily sewn, or otherwise fixed atop the turf. They should beconstructed of a material which will prevent the users feet fromslipping. It is important to note that device 10 will function equallywell without pads 30 and 32. The pads only serve to help the userimmediately position his or her feet in the appropriate places.

Striking half 12 is hingeably joined to standing half 14 by a pair ofhinges 20. These are standard metal hinges, the make-up and function ofwhich will be understood and readily know to one skilled in the art asones similar to those used on a suitcase. These hinges enable halves 12and 14 to be brought together and device 10 closed up as shown in FIG.2. When the device is closed, as shown in FIG. 2, a pair of hoop-latches18 are provided on standing half 14 to clasp a pair of hooking-tabs 38on striking half 12 and lock device 10 in closed position.

Once in this position the device may be carried from place to placeusing, like many suitcases, a handle 16 which is provided on half 14,but it could optionally be located on half 12.

Because device 10 is portable, it may be transported to any location,i.e., driving ranges, golf courses, for practice.

Once it is brought to a desired location, device 10 may be opened up byunhooking latches 18 from tabs 38 and halves 12 and 14 dropped to theposition shown in FIG. 1. A front 40 surface and a rear surface 41 ofthe device when closed are constructed of a material having superiortraction properties. These surfaces may be made of rubber. As shown inFIG. 2 here, these surfaces are rubber pads with an irregular surfacelocated thereon. This is similar to the configurations on the bottom ofindustrial/office floor mats. The important principle is that once thedevice is opened up into open position as shown in FIG. 1, it is notallowed to slip on the grass, or whatever surface it is placed upon.

Also on one (or both) sides 40 or 41 of device 10, indicia might bepresented (not shown). Indicia 47 might be a logo or contain otherinformation.

When device 10 is opened up, cutout 22 is then exposed, and camera 26 ontripod 24 may be removed for use. In the preferred embodiment, camera 26is a real-time capable mini-cam, which operates in a manner known tothose skilled in the art. Such cameras are also readily commerciallyavailable. Camera 26 includes jacks which electrically connect via anelectrical conduit wire to jacks on striking half 12 (not shown), andfrom these jacks, the signal is transferred to the embedded monitor andscreen 34 in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. The cameraand monitor act together to display real-time images on screen 34, alsoin a manner known to those skilled in the art. This enables the user toview his or her swing in real-time for practice purposes. The camera maybe placed directly in front of the user to obtain viewing of the swinghead on. Because it is provided on a transportable tripod, however, thecamera may be moved to almost any position, and aimed at the user. Theunlimited number of vantage points available to the user for viewing arehelpful to the practice process.

While looking at the monitor, the user may simultaneously focus on theball. Regardless of whether the ball is placed on tee 43 atinside-edge-tee location 44; on tee 45 at center-screen location 46; oron tee 47 at outside-edge location 48; the user is able to focus on theball without loosing view of the images provided on screen 34. This isbecause (i) the monitor is positioned to be substantially parallel to,but slightly beneath, the playing surface (astroturf), and (ii) the teeis located so close to, or on, the monitor such that the user is able toperipherally view the real-time image while still focusing on the ballduring the course of making a proper golf swing. Thus, he or she is ableto observe the swing in real time without having to move his or her headaway to see the monitor.

Thus, there has been shown and described a sport practice device. Manychanges, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications ofthe subject invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled inthe art after considering this specification together with theaccompanying figures and claims.

For example, the device could be easily transformed into a device forpracticing the appropriate hockey shot swing. In such a case, a hardflat surface would be used as the simulated playing surface instead ofastroturf. Other variations adapting the device for other sports inwhich a swing are made could also be made, and are also included withinthe scope of the invention here.

Further, the same device, together with ensuing benefits is alsoapplicable to similar equipment in unrelated industries. All suchchanges, modifications, variations and other uses and applications whichdo not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed tobe covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims whichfollow.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. An activity practice device, comprising: a camera; a housing having hingeably attached first and second portions; a display on said first portion for displaying real-time images received by said camera, said display being located in a plane substantially parallel to a simulated activity playing surface; an upper surface on said second portion upon which a user may stand while making a swing, said upper surface being substantially coplanar with said simulated activity playing surface; and a striking target located substantially directly above a portion of said display, said target adapted to receive a golf ball thereon, said target being placed at a location, said location being such that a user, when focusing on said ball during the course of making a proper golf swing, is able to simultaneously see said swing in said user's peripheral vision. 22-24. (canceled)
 25. The device of claim 21 wherein at least a portion of said display is covered by a transparent protective covering.
 26. The device of claim 21 wherein the device is portable.
 27. (canceled)
 28. The device of claim 21 wherein one of said first and second members includes a handle.
 29. The device of claim 21 wherein said second member includes markings which suggest foot placement.
 30. The device of claim 21 wherein one of said first and second members includes a recess for containing said camera.
 31. A portable device used for practicing a sport, said sport including an action swinging an elongated member by gripping said elongated member at one end and striking a projectile with another end, said device, comprising: a camera; a first portion of said portable device hingeably connected to a second portion of said portable device, said first portion supporting a display, said display used for displaying real-time images received by said camera, said second portion including an upper surface upon which a user may stand while making a swing; a target on said device at which a user swings, said target being placed at a location such that a user, when focusing on said target during the course of a swing, is able to peripherally observe said swing in real-time.
 32. The device of claim 31 wherein said upper surface upon which a user may stand while making a swing is substantially level with a simulated playing surface created immediately above said display.
 33. (canceled)
 34. The device of claim 31 wherein one of said first and second portions include a recess for containing at least said camera.
 35. A device for teaching an activity to a user, said activity including swinging an elongated member by gripping said elongated member at one end and striking a projectile with another end, said device comprising: a camera; a display located in a first portion; said display having a substantially flat viewing area, said display capable of presenting images received from said camera in real-time onto display enabling the user to simultaneously view themselves while engaging in said activity; a projectile-receiving striking surface which is substantially parallel to and located above said flat viewing area enabling the user to hit said projectile off of said striking surface and then observe a projectile response to said activity via said display; and a simulated playing surface located on a second portion, said simulated playing surface being substantially parallel to said viewing area and said striking surface.
 36. The device of claim 35 in which the substantially flat viewing area is embedded in a simulated sport playing surface.
 37. (canceled) 